Humans are social creatures. We need friendship and companionship. Few people enjoy being alone, especially for extended periods of time. Most of us like being connected and have a subtle fear of missing out. 

Social connections provide numerous benefits. They ease anxiety and stress, counteract depression, increase our self-worth, combat loneliness, and even boost our lifespan. Many people rely on social media to help create and manage these connections. 

Unfortunately, the technology that helps bring us together can also set us at odds with one another. Without the benefit of inflection and tone of voice, we often misunderstand what someone else has said. It is an everyday occurrence to overgeneralize, miss someone’s sarcasm, or fail to understand a joke. We might read something into a response that the author didn’t say. Others use someone else’s post as a springboard for a tirade about something important to them that has little to do with the original comment. Readers don’t always understand messages as the authors intended—or respond appropriately. 

Companies fuel our outrage for advertising dollars. They keep us plugged in online, constantly coming back to check likes, comments, and status updates. If you spend significant time on social media, you’ve probably been triggered by something. But let’s do a thought experiment. What if Jesus were on social media? Let’s imagine if the Sermon on the Mount were delivered today, with various platforms in mind:

Seeing the multitude of registered attendees, Jesus sat down with his disciples and logged in for his webinar on Kingdom Living, and he taught them, saying,

Beware of posting your acts of righteousness online to be seen by others, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. 

Thus, when you post online, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do on their social media accounts, that they might get likes and comments from others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. And when you give to the needy, do not let your iPhone camera know what your right hand is doing, that your service may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

And when you post on Instagram, you must not post like the hypocrites do. For they love to take many selfies, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 

And when on Twitter/X, do not heap up snarky comments as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be praised for their many clapbacks and clever putdowns. Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the trolls and purveyors of outrage, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 

Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life when you see what other people have posted. Is not life more than the highlights on someone else’s Facebook page? Have no FOMO, and all these things will be added to you. 

Resist the urge to become triggered, and avoid the temptation to gather many laughing face emojis. 

He who has a keyboard to #hashtag, let him #hashtag.

Social media gives each of us an immense platform, which makes it even more important to examine our motives. We can use it for immense good—to share wholesome, faith-building material, encourage others, and mobilize fellow believers to pray for and help those in need. We can also use it for less noble purposes, like tearing down others, criticizing what we don’t like, and mocking and ridiculing people with different opinions and beliefs. 

How can we tell if we’re using social media the way Jesus would? The answer is deceptively simple: seeing if we behave online the same way as we would in person. Look at the cardinal virtues of Christianity as presented in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:2-12) and Paul’s list of the fruit of the spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). These qualities are most effective when practiced for someone else’s benefit. Contrast this with the works of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21), which are virtually always done at someone else’s expense. 

When we post, repost, reply, and share, are we doing it to bring value to another person’s life? If so, chances are we’re doing what Jesus would do. If not, you don’t need me to tell you what that means.